Jason Taylor had his Florida farewell news conference to tell his side of the story. And now, someone else is telling Miami's.

A source close to the situation insisted that the Miami Dolphins did in fact make an offer to Taylor after the 2009 season that even included an $850,000 raise that would have boosted his salary to more than $2 million per year.

The Dolphins did this despite the notion they were thought to be disappointed with Taylor's play, which had him on the field for more than 800 plays, yet he accounted for fewer than 30 tackles. [...]

"If I was important enough that you wanted me in November, why wouldn't you want me now?" Taylor said Tuesday night. "If I was good enough then, I just don't understand why I wasn't good enough now. But that's their prerogative. They're allowed to make that decision. There is a business side to football, and if they feel that it's better for their team to not have me, that's fine. I have no problem with that. That's part of the game. Just let me know."

Still, the Dolphins were willing to bring him back and even asked Taylor to undergo shoulder surgery immediately after the season. Taylor declined the Dolphins' contract offer, and opted to have the shoulder surgery a month later.

The source claimed this put the Dolphins in a position in which they were unsure whether Taylor wanted to continue playing.

Miami then communicated to Taylor's camp that it would wait until after the draft to re-evaluate Taylor rejoining the team. But once the Jets made the contract offer to Taylor, the Dolphins reiterated to Taylor's camp that they were focused on the draft and would talk to him after the draft was completed.

Those on Taylor's side claim it was the result of inept management by Parcells and co.

Those on the Dolphins side say Taylor is a selfish traitor.

It's not this simple in reality. Both sides are to "blame" for Taylor not landing in Miami.

Good post Fonzy couldn't agree more!!.

No use taking sides cause like you said both were extremely bull headed in all of this, if anything I'm pissed at both..

I don't think I'd be as upset with the FO if outside linebacker wasn't such a glaring need. To me bringing JT back was a no brainer..this just goes to show you that this regime is gonna do it their way and that is it..

As far as JT goes I'm sure his heart is still here but he's got a hurt ego. I think signing with the Jets has a lot to do with pay back not just about money. There is lots to this whole situation that's not being told!

I say let's move on and draft ourselves a few good replacements tonight and JT?..thanks for the hard work and memories..have yourself an injury free yet non productive time in NY!!

THE TEAM brought him back after he gave it the bird in '08 (and if anyone for a moment feels that TAYLOR wasn't the architect of his departure in '08, then I have some really great waterfront property to sell you...on the Moon). That INCLUDES PARCELLS, IRELAND AND SPARANO. If any of those three said 'f$%k him, don't want him' he wouldn't have been here in '09.Instead, they let bygones be bygones and brought him back.

They, like me, bought his false contrition. "I just want to be here, I'll play for whatever they want".

Then, as the season wore on, I did what the Trifecta did...they began to feel he was genuine. So, they came to him (even the purported aloofness of Parcells was put aside; it was BP who offered JT the resign in November and a raise to his salary).

Boy, are we gullible.

JT spurned them in November, and the team COULD have done what JT DID DO in the public. Ireland could have trotted out to reporters and said 'hey, we offered the guy a raise and he didn't want it'.

Instead, they did the only thing they could, and that is focus on the draft. If JT didn't want to talk contract, okay. How can they then count on him being here?

Then, the team wanted him to have surgery. Can you think why?Because they wanted him healthy and ready to be a part of the team by OTAs and TC if he was going to play.

He declined.

You see, he has his own timetable, his own agenda as to what he wants to do. And if the team that he plays for doesn't do things HIS way, well, then he'll show them.

I really enjoyed watching him play here, and he played very well. He is one of the best Defensive players in our history, and one of the best players at his position for the last decade.

However, he has reached a stage in his career where he has been infected with Favre-itis. I am become Jason! I am bigger than the team! I demand RESPECT! Respect My Author-i- TIE!

In the end JT signed on with the Jets for more money than the Fins would've given him.......looking at the season ahead and the previous two seasons JT has played only 1 for the Miami Dolphins. To me his signing shouldn't be a big deal for that reason, as it made me used to him not being a dolphin anymore.

I dislike the Jets, but I still like JT the player. I also like Bart Scott who plays for the jests........so I will not root for the team(Jests) but I do hope JT has another solid season and loses to the Fins at least twice this upcoming season if not more.

Doesn't matter to me. There was an offer on the table in November. Taylor didn't take it claiming it wasn't how he was used to doing things, even disturbingly citing how Wanny and Spielman used to handle contracts.

He had an offer. He wanted more money. He thought he was entitled to more money after spending only 1 year trying to rebuild his name with the team after forcing his way out of dodge following the MOST embarrassing season this franchise has ever experienced.

BP tested his desire to be with the team with that contract extension offer back in 2009 .... Jason Traitor flunked that test.

He shoved a knife in to the back of the one constant in football: the fans. Realistically speaking, we are the only entity that has a vested interest year in, year out. Owners change. Players change. Coaches change. Everything but the fans.

That he decided to play for the sworn enemy of any and all Dolphans was akin to giving US the finger along with a big FU while he was at it. He yammers on about respect, but clearly has none for those who have supported him his entire career.

That is why I take sides. Because in the entire deal, we are the only ones truly affected. He's not hurting the team. Paw makes a great argument as to why so I won't repeat my thoughts on the matter. He's only hurting the fan base. He is not a Dolphin. He does not care to be. He should not be ever again.

_________________A good RB is nice, a good QB even better, but it's best to be able to stop someone first.

He shoved a knife in to the back of the one constant in football: the fans. Realistically speaking, we are the only entity that has a vested interest year in, year out. Owners change. Players change. Coaches change. Everything but the fans.

That he decided to play for the sworn enemy of any and all Dolphans was akin to giving US the finger along with a big FU while he was at it. He yammers on about respect, but clearly has none for those who have supported him his entire career.

That is why I take sides. Because in the entire deal, we are the only ones truly affected. He's not hurting the team. Paw makes a great argument as to why so I won't repeat my thoughts on the matter. He's only hurting the fan base. He is not a Dolphin. He does not care to be. He should not be ever again.

..........and all those vile words he had for the Jets and their fan base now proves to be just EMPTY TALK. That's one of the most infuriating aspects of all of this.

He shoved a knife in to the back of the one constant in football: the fans. Realistically speaking, we are the only entity that has a vested interest year in, year out. Owners change. Players change. Coaches change. Everything but the fans.

That he decided to play for the sworn enemy of any and all Dolphans was akin to giving US the finger along with a big FU while he was at it. He yammers on about respect, but clearly has none for those who have supported him his entire career.

That is why I take sides. Because in the entire deal, we are the only ones truly affected. He's not hurting the team. Paw makes a great argument as to why so I won't repeat my thoughts on the matter. He's only hurting the fan base. He is not a Dolphin. He does not care to be. He should not be ever again.

..........and all those vile words he had for the Jets and their fan base now proves to be just EMPTY TALK. That's one of the most infuriating aspects of all of this.

Makes one wonder what he'll say about us once he been indoctrinated by puke green philosophy.

_________________A good RB is nice, a good QB even better, but it's best to be able to stop someone first.

BY JEFF DARLINGTONjdarlington@MiamiHerald.comIn the past few weeks, Dolphins Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino has spoken several times with linebacker Jason Taylor about his decision to sign with the New York Jets. And he has supported him all the way.

"If I was in the same position, I’d do the same thing," said Marino, who arrived at the NFL Draft as a guest of honor Thursday night. "He can still play football. That’s what he is. He’s a football player.

"I’m sure it’s tough on him because he loves the city and he loves Miami. It’s tough on players when you want to retire in a certain place but you can’t.''

BY JEFF DARLINGTONjdarlington@MiamiHerald.comIn the past few weeks, Dolphins Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino has spoken several times with linebacker Jason Taylor about his decision to sign with the New York Jets. And he has supported him all the way.

"If I was in the same position, I’d do the same thing," said Marino, who arrived at the NFL Draft as a guest of honor Thursday night. "He can still play football. That’s what he is. He’s a football player.

"I’m sure it’s tough on him because he loves the city and he loves Miami. It’s tough on players when you want to retire in a certain place but you can’t.''

At the end of the day, Jason Taylor took the money!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't give a flying f--k what he said. Padon the aggressive tone. I personally feel like 2008 all over again(DTWS excluded). He knew which direction we were headed. He knew that we were trying to build something for the long term future. Even with JT, we still need an OLB. I don't need to pay a guy 2mil a year when all he's producing is 5 sacks a year. Sorry but in this day and age their is no team in the league who game plans for JT anymore.

Not to beat a dead horse here because at this point the whole JT thing is a non issue & since he is dead to so many of us maybe we should not talk about him anymore until about 5 years from now when he rises from the dead to go into the ring of honor when this dictatorship is no longer in power & we all forgive & forget & love him again but Joe Rose made a statement that after JT turned down the offer in November he changed Jt's role & had him go after the QM much , much less because he was pissed that his offer was turned down thus affecting Jt's stats. As for Marino's comments , well it seems not many of out past stars who were let go in not so great ways do not speak so highly of the organization.